"If I had it all to do over again, I'd cut off my hands" THAT is IT! As a comic book artist, it defines the experience perfectly. I'll share it with every buddy artist I meet.
2:08 can I just say I really like the idea of comic titles bankrolling your videos. It feels more respectful to our beloved medium than advertising healthy cereal or Factor. This is more of a message to your sponsors than to you. Loved this one!
As someone who deals with Migraines I'm not surprised that with no medical relief He would use alcohol. The pain takes a lot of your concentration to sought of manage and you don't realize the physical strain until the pain subsides and your feel exhausted, with no relief his life would have become a living hell. To do anything under those conditions takes an incredible effort.The tablet I use is called maxalt it works very well I'm sure if medication like this was available to him it would have made a world of difference. Really enjoying your channel I Thank you and all who work with you for making it. Take care
I know Bob Layton, who doesn't live too far from me in Seoul, and we've spoken a lot about his life in comics. Layton worked under Wood and speaks fondly about him,. Calling him 'Woody', Layton says how much he learned from Wood and how brilliant he was as a creator, a teacher, and a friend. Wally Wood is a legend.
The thought of drawing *10-12* hours per day every day for years is so bad I can almost feel my rist seize up from carpal tunnel injuries and my eyes turning to jelly from strain. Absolutely hellish. How comic book artists back then managed that remorseless pace while still retaining *such* stunning high quality is mind blowing.
It is worth noting that the Harry Harrison you mention is not just any Harry Harrison, but actually the SFWA Grand Master, Science fiction writer Harry Harrison, creator of series such as Deathworld, the Stainless Steel Rat, and Bill the Galactic Hero.
Wallace Wood's story was always heart breaking. It is good to see he is still getting love after all these years. He inspired(and continues to inspire) generations of artists. ComicTropes always brings the good stuff.
I was a student/assistant of Bill Pearson's in 1984 - 1988. Bill had/has a huge collection of comics and comic art, most impressive was he had inherited all of Wood's original art after Wood passed. I saw the originals of Superduperman and tons of other icons of Wood's work. Unfortunately, much of Bill's collection was lost when a fire destroyed a storage shed he kept much of his collection in. Much survived but much more was lost. Wally Wood really was one of the very greatest cartoonists ever.
I think people overstate and misunderstand its usefulness. It was designed to help keep boring dialogue scenes visually interesting. It wasn't meant to be , and isn't, some secret cheat code to making a whole comic. You need aaalllooot more knowledge to tell a story sequentially.
"Being a comic book artist is like sentencing yourself to life imprisonment at hard labor in solitary confinement." What a tragic statement. I am a huge Jack Kirby fan, and Jack also was a very hard working man. He called his basement studio "a dungeon". But at least he had a loving wife and lots of children and he could work at home, even though he would only leave his dungeon for short times.
The quote is ESPECIALLY relevant in Japanese manga, because many of the mangakas in Japan still work that way. Because Japan never had the strong artists' rights/ownership movement the established work ethics for mangaka are... insane.
@@kennedyhair8434 Yes its great to devote your entire life to learning to draw anything and everything amazingly well-- from people to buildings to the hot dog cart Spiderman jumps over... and then get paid peanuts in an industry with absolutely no job security. Yes, on the one hand its nice to draw for a living, but the "living" is not consistent or reliable, even for established pros. The industry is and has always been brutal as hell, man. As lovers of comics we cant hide from this truth.
Chris I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough time emotionally . Creative , smart , witty people seem particularly prone to self doubt and the less appealing side of our emotions . I share your struggle and I'm very much an admirer of you and the educational work you do here on UA-cam my long time educator .
I understand your battle with depression. I’ve been battling it for half my life. Your channel is one of my go-to’s for great comic stories about comics’ greatest creators. Keep fighting the good fight.
Solid intro to Wood. I agree with the title-he’s the GOAT in my book (along with Kirby & Crumb). Besides the top-notch craft, something indescribable about his work (charisma? soul?). Looking forward to more …
It's so sad that he only did so few Marvel issues, because he couldn't consistently meet the deadlines. That's why he lost the job on Daredevil (and because he wanted writing credits).
Wood was the greatest. My fav. artist of all time. If I could go back in time, I would go back to 60's just to meet him. I would pay just to watch him work. He was THE MAN.
Became a fan of Woody's during the 60's. His work, along with Kirby, Ditko & Gil Kane, was incredible for kids truly into comics. Any story he did was an event. Like Steranko & Adams he was a true star. He could draw any genre.
I agree, that ‘74 Holiday treasury is a terrific place to read “In Mortal Combat with…Sub-Mariner!” from Daredevil issue 7. Might be the only time this story was reprinted in an oversized format.
To hear what he said before he passed is heartbreaking. To think he regrets having the talent he had. Sending positive vibes Chris, I know having depression myself it can be all consuming so stay busy and I love the channel, been killing it lately!
You know who should be dealing with depression? Every other person on YT besides Chris who talks comics. Because he is light years above anyone else when it comes to verbal and visual presentation. I've collected comics for decades and heard many "experts" blab away (including myself), so I know this guy is nothing short of fabulous in this field.
Incredible work, I want to search for more of his 50s work now. Regarding a permanent headache, I got something similar a few years ago and it was a combination of burnout, bad sleep, eye strain that needed glasses, and the "incinting incident" was a very bad flu, that I think just was the final straw for all the previous problems get to me and my body just gave out. I imagine Wood's vacation gave him a proper rest in years just brought all the abuse he got to his mind and body to the surface; smoking as he did surely didn't help: probably had blood circulation problems as smoking thickens the blood making it a strain to the heart to pump it, so it can lead to heart failures. It's sad that such a great, talented artist was abused and exploited to that extent his body just gave up on him like that 😢 what's worse it's still such a common situation even today...
@Shinmsl A friend of mine was being treated for migraines and her doctor was prescribing her stronger and stronger medication with no relief. One day when she went to get her latest prescription filled, the pharmacist asked her how long she had been taking this particular drug. When she told him it was her first time, he refused to fill it, explaining that the prescribed dosage was intended for someone who had been on the drug for some time and was building up a tolerance for it. I suggested that she have her eyes examined. I had experienced migraine like symptoms before I got glasses. She went to an optometrist and found out that she was extremely farsighted. She was working 8 - 12 hours a day at a computer. She got glasses and her "migraines" stopped.
To answer your title, the answer is Yes. One of my big regrets was to see Mr. Wood sitting behind me at a convention and never telling him what his work meant to me and the field. Love this channel.
Wood’s influence on the entire comics industry is tangible even today. I loved his EC stuff, particularly on “Weird Science.” His lush drawing style cannot be imitated. When I saw the “B-17” segment of “Heavy Metal,” I immediately thought “this looks like a Wallace Wood story from “Frontline Combat”
Mike Ploog did the main artwork for that "B-17" bit from the HEAVY METAL movie, but he would probably be the first to admit to being influenced by Wallace Wood's style.
Al and Fritz had a dynamic quality that Woody couldn’t match. But Woody was overall a notably better comic artist than Fritz, imo. Al remains the king, imo, who was great at every element of comic art.
I'm glad to hear that you are making Wallace Wood a multi-episode endeavor. He is a fascinating creative force. I understand depression since it's something I've dealt with my entire life. Thank you for all you do to make us more informed on the great creators of the past. You are their voice in our times. Only special people can do that.
As a 70's kid MAD Magazine was a highly sought delight. Beside the monthly issues, you could buy reprint paperbacks that included comic features from the 50's and 60's like Wood's "Superduperman" and "The Wild One Half." These had dated subject matter but the retro art style and humor were gripping. Wood could impersonate any other comics artist, and his own style had a ludicrous dignity that was hilarious even if you had no idea who or what was being parodied.
Excellent job. The distinctive, fluid compositions, and stellar anatomy makes Wood's art something that made the world better because of. Remember that daredevil cover. His style is something you can't unsee😂❤
Im sorry to hear about your struggle with depression. I know it can be a black hole that just sucks you in and all you can do is survive until it passes. I hope it helps to know that so many care about you and how important you are to all of us! 😊
I discovered Wallace Wood because I really like Power Girl. My favorite bit of trivia is that Wood realized his editor didnt care about what he was doing so he kept increasing PG's bust size to see if his editor would even notice.
There is nothing like a comic illustrator who loves comics and the history itself. The biggest thing about Wood that impresses me is that he was a damn fine, good funny cartoonist too. Many great action adventure illustrators can’t draw funny, period. I also loved his versatility being able to mimic styles from the drawing to the inkng; he did the best mad comic strip parodies. In the mid 80s, I worked with a young woman who said her brother was in an assistant for him at Syracuse, New York. She said that Wood, drunk with a gun, chased around her brother. Does any of this check out?
From what little I've heard about his condition, Wallace Wood may have suffered from Pseudo Tumor Cerebri (PTC), a condition where the spinal chord makes too much fluid, causing pressure on the brain which causes constant headaches and can lead to blindness. Even in the early 2000s it was difficult for doctors to diagnose, usually being treated as 'just a headache.'
Another great piece and wonderful to hear one on a legend like Wallace Wood. Thank you, Chris for consistently putting out the most thoughtful and in-depth comics related content. You have a true passion for the art and the medium.
I work with comic books daily, pretty much a dream job, its always an absolute delight and treat when Wood's work comes to me. It is interesting to me how much he focused on nudity and sex towards the end of his life. A legend and undisputable titan of comic history indeed.
I've also been wondering why Woody got so much into nudity and sex material in the later '70s and early '80s. I think it was for three reasons -- 1. His mom passed away in August 1972, so after that time Woody didn't have to worry about embarrassing her; 2. The publishing world was generating (and selling) lots more adult material by the early '70s, so there was a ready market for dirty cartoons. Overall, the pay may have been better than what he was getting for "clean" work during that period; 3. Woody was well-suited to the task -- he drew attractive women, enjoyed doing so, and was no prude. Plus, the typical adult story did not require complex or extensive backgrounds, which he may have appreciated because it saved time and kept his hours-per-page time investment low.
There's a history of the Mexican comic era, that it's lost in time, even for the Mexican people, you could talk about it. One of the most famous comic hero in this time was Kaliman. Really an interesting time.
Thank you so much for this story on one of my favorites. I found him with the THUNDER AGENTS books and I became a life long fan. I think you're doing a great job. I hope you continue doing this.
Hi Chris, just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear about your struggle with depression. I'm also in the same boat and can honestly say your videos are a wonderful escape from it. Thanks for each video and hope things get brighter for you, man.
Terrific little pocket review of Wood's EC career. Loads I didn't know. Enjoyed it immensely. Thanks. Hope your health improves. Let us know if you get better. Don't like to think of people struggling like this. Take care.
This is a really great tribute to easily one of the greatest artists the comics medium has ever known; Wood was so ambitious and versatile it's hard not to be inspired by him. I remember taking a year off of my comic series just to beef up my drawing skills and more than anyone else I studied Wood (and yes, I improved!), mainly his work on MAD, Cannon, and witzend. It's always great to find more of his work out there, so thank you again for the recommendations. EDIT: also forgot to mention the Dr. Doom stories he did for Astonishing Tales; he only did a few but they're still fantastic (...sorry, Doom, should I choose a different adjective?)
One of my greatest pleasures of working Cons oh-so-many-years-ago was getting to hang out with Al Feldstein for a day. When I asked him about Wood, this rock-hard New Yorker got a sightly pained look on his face, glanced away and said: "Great artist - great guy!...I really, really don't know what happened with him...". I didn't push the subject. Anyway. Cheers, Chris.
Precious tribute to one of the most important artist ever. I'm 82 today and have drawn since my scholl days. Wood was my inspiration and had been one of my favourites. His work with DC was classical!
10 yrs without a vacation ??? Not me. LOL. You just wear your self out that way.I also believe Jack Kirby spent that much time drawing too,they both were work horses.I like how Wood was a para-trooper in the army,I was in the army too,first as an infantryman,then got hurt on a training exercise and re-classed as a cook. Did 7 yrs in regular army,was stationed for 2 yrs in Korea,loved it there,the Korean people were so polite and friendly.The american dollar went a-LONG-way there,could buy so much in Korea,especially clothes. I still have clothes I bought there in my storage till this day. I had so much-FUN-in the army. LOL. Maybe-TOO-fun. LOL.
Legend has it that when Wally would come into the office to start his day the other artists would greet him saying, "Morning, Wood," and Wally would reply, "That's what she said." Hysterical. I bet this never got old.
Really cool hearing about the man, the myth, the legend: Mr Wallace Wood! The working conditions always sound so terrible so it's no surprise a lot of those guys got kinda jaded. Such a shame to see that talent and production come at the cost of their lives basically. Thanks for sharing this though. At least we can remember his work as the greatness it is
Wood was one of those artists that made a friend and I want to create our own comics back in the 60s and 70s. We got pretty good at drawing but we learned that it was harder than you might expect. Discipline is key. We didn't have it.
Wood discussion always welcome. Thanks for a detailed, well-illustrated episode. I'd never seen the correction-heavy, rejected MAD strip before; for some reason I always thought it was an Uncle Scrooge parody, but I guess not. I wonder who has the original today. As a fellow chronic headache sufferer, always had sympathy for him. And admiration for the way he kept going, until he couldn't face dialysis.
100%. WW's work in MAD is burned into my brain from childhood. My gawd though, between he and Elder, they could ape ANY artist out there. Such an incredible body of work and talent.
Great video. IMO Wally Wood is one of the greatest American comic illustrators, and my personal favorite. He's legendary. I'd place him above Jack Kirby. I can't wait for part 2 of this.
Oh brother as someone who has had mental health issues too i think i can speak for everyone we really appreciate you still getting up and making these videos for us. Much love to you man and thanks for the free entertainment. Wishing you the best brother 🫶
Great episode!! Wally Wood is an amazing artist and his work is tremendous. Hope you're doing fine, I know for experience that depression is a living nightmare but I hope you can get better soon and have a peacefull life without thinking on those things. Great work and my best wishes for you, Chris
Thanks for the deep dive. What absolutely stunning art by Mr. Wood! I have been struggling with depression since a little before covid. Thank you for your openness. While it's a battle , it is good to know that you're not the only one. And with depression I think really it's easy to feel that way.
Keep it up! Wally was one of my all-time favorites! I have four of the Witzends and they have been the cardinal self published masterpieces of my time, not only Wallys work , but Frank Frazettas as well. Thank you for the background, because I had no idea of his development. On your personal note if you are getting help with depression, great. If you are not consider doing so and know you are not alone brother. Keep up this great work! These stories need to be told! Thanks again.
When young my aunt bought me a newspaper size comic of woods work. It was amazing, as was anything woods did. Still have some MAD paperbacks with Woods work. Tied with Frazetta as one of my favorite illustrators
Keep up the good fight, Chris! Dealing with depression is tough and can seem pointless, but it's not. It gets better. Remember, your videos (and you, yourself) bring joy and happiness to thousands of people -and that's something. Something big and worthwhile.☮☮🙂🙂
Thanks for posting this. I recently started buying up some of the EC Archives (in softcover). They're really well done and not terribly expensive. I highly recommend them.
I was 11 years old in the 50's and anything I could find by Wallace wood was my art school. He taught me to draw!
"If I had it all to do over again, I'd cut off my hands" THAT is IT! As a comic book artist, it defines the experience perfectly. I'll share it with every buddy artist I meet.
2:08 can I just say I really like the idea of comic titles bankrolling your videos. It feels more respectful to our beloved medium than advertising healthy cereal or Factor. This is more of a message to your sponsors than to you. Loved this one!
Today his birth is remembered. Greetings from Chile!!!
YES! I'LL NEVER FORGET WALLACE WOOD! HIS FUNNY STUFF FOR MAD, THE AGENTS OF THUNDER, AND MORE!
7:51 "Never draw what you can copy, never copy what you can trace, and never trace what you can cut out and paste up"
Wallace Wood
As someone who deals with Migraines I'm not surprised that with no medical relief He would use alcohol. The pain takes a lot of your concentration to sought of manage and you don't realize the physical strain until the pain subsides and your feel exhausted, with no relief his life would have become a living hell. To do anything under those conditions takes an incredible effort.The tablet I use is called maxalt it works very well I'm sure if medication like this was available to him it would have made a world of difference. Really enjoying your channel I Thank you and all who work with you for making it. Take care
I know Bob Layton, who doesn't live too far from me in Seoul, and we've spoken a lot about his life in comics. Layton worked under Wood and speaks fondly about him,. Calling him 'Woody', Layton says how much he learned from Wood and how brilliant he was as a creator, a teacher, and a friend. Wally Wood is a legend.
Awesome Sauce 🤓👍
The thought of drawing *10-12* hours per day every day for years is so bad I can almost feel my rist seize up from carpal tunnel injuries and my eyes turning to jelly from strain. Absolutely hellish. How comic book artists back then managed that remorseless pace while still retaining *such* stunning high quality is mind blowing.
It is worth noting that the Harry Harrison you mention is not just any Harry Harrison, but actually the SFWA Grand Master, Science fiction writer Harry Harrison, creator of series such as Deathworld, the Stainless Steel Rat, and Bill the Galactic Hero.
Wallace Wood's story was always heart breaking. It is good to see he is still getting love after all these years. He inspired(and continues to inspire) generations of artists. ComicTropes always brings the good stuff.
He's also responsible for Disney Rule34.
I was a student/assistant of Bill Pearson's in 1984 - 1988. Bill had/has a huge collection of comics and comic art, most impressive was he had inherited all of Wood's original art after Wood passed. I saw the originals of Superduperman and tons of other icons of Wood's work. Unfortunately, much of Bill's collection was lost when a fire destroyed a storage shed he kept much of his collection in. Much survived but much more was lost. Wally Wood really was one of the very greatest cartoonists ever.
Sad yet interesting.
His quote about working in comics is like a life sentence in solitary confinement is spot on. Great episode Chris, thanx!
Chris sorry to hear of your depression. We love you man, your passion for comics is a gift to us all!
“Wallace Wood’s 22 Panels That Always Work” still holds true today for sequential art storytelling.
Nah, it’s stupid. Learn to draw.
That sheet should be taught to every artist in comics today… I think the deep craft of comics is long gone.
I think people overstate and misunderstand its usefulness. It was designed to help keep boring dialogue scenes visually interesting. It wasn't meant to be , and isn't, some secret cheat code to making a whole comic. You need aaalllooot more knowledge to tell a story sequentially.
"Being a comic book artist is like sentencing yourself to life imprisonment at hard labor in solitary confinement." What a tragic statement. I am a huge Jack Kirby fan, and Jack also was a very hard working man. He called his basement studio "a dungeon". But at least he had a loving wife and lots of children and he could work at home, even though he would only leave his dungeon for short times.
Ehh every job is like that. The truth is comic book artists are very lucky to draw for a living.
The quote is ESPECIALLY relevant in Japanese manga, because many of the mangakas in Japan still work that way. Because Japan never had the strong artists' rights/ownership movement the established work ethics for mangaka are... insane.
@@kennedyhair8434 Yes its great to devote your entire life to learning to draw anything and everything amazingly well-- from people to buildings to the hot dog cart Spiderman jumps over... and then get paid peanuts in an industry with absolutely no job security. Yes, on the one hand its nice to draw for a living, but the "living" is not consistent or reliable, even for established pros. The industry is and has always been brutal as hell, man. As lovers of comics we cant hide from this truth.
Chris I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough time emotionally . Creative , smart , witty people seem particularly prone to self doubt and the less appealing side of our emotions . I share your struggle and I'm very much an admirer of you and the educational work you do here on UA-cam my long time educator .
The struggles of an artist
I understand your battle with depression. I’ve been battling it for half my life. Your channel is one of my go-to’s for great comic stories about comics’ greatest creators. Keep fighting the good fight.
Amen 😂 🙏
This channel is the best kind of therapy ever 🤓👍
Stop whinging
@Reginaldforthright805 stop being unkind
He reminds me of trosley that used to be in the old CARtoons magazine.
So happy to see you covering him! There should be more stuff about him. He's one of the few artists that was equally good at "realism" and cartooning!
His realism is stiff as a board.
Wooden? I love his Daredevil... Reall life is pretty static most of the time@@reginaldforthright805
Solid intro to Wood. I agree with the title-he’s the GOAT in my book (along with Kirby & Crumb). Besides the top-notch craft, something indescribable about his work (charisma? soul?). Looking forward to more …
Wood was an amazing artist. I absolutely love his classic pulp sci-fi stuff. The rocket ships... the bubble helmets... The whole look. Fantastic!
Glad to see a Wallace Wood episode! Loved his Daredevil work and it led me to finding his Cannon work.
It's so sad that he only did so few Marvel issues, because he couldn't consistently meet the deadlines. That's why he lost the job on Daredevil (and because he wanted writing credits).
No other comic channel I watch does deep dives into artist like Chris. THAT'S why I'm a patreon member.
God Loves Comics often does.
@@saintsataniko2116 I'll have to their channel out too.
MAD has always had an absolute glut of talented artists. Before I got into comics, it was MAD magazine. I would love to see more about MAD in general.
The constance of Wood's work is amazing! Certainly one of the greatests. All the best, my friend!
Wally Wood was my dad’s favorite artist. He turned me onto him, and comics in general, when I was very young. Thanks, Pop!
Wood was the greatest. My fav. artist of all time. If I could go back in time, I would go back to 60's just to meet him. I would pay just to watch him work. He was THE MAN.
My all time #1, Wood's 22 panels is a must have/see for any comic artist. Thanks for the Video on him.
I loved his mad magazine work. Top quality.
One thing I noticed, even at a reduced size you can always tell what’s going on in his panels. He was a master at values.
Became a fan of Woody's during the 60's. His work, along with Kirby, Ditko & Gil Kane, was incredible for kids truly into comics. Any story he did was an event. Like Steranko & Adams he was a true star. He could draw any genre.
I remember Daredevil vs Sub-Mariner from the 1974 Marvel Holiday Treasury. Clearly Stan Lee knew this was one in a million. Best comic art ever.
I agree, that ‘74 Holiday treasury is a terrific place to read “In Mortal Combat with…Sub-Mariner!” from Daredevil issue 7. Might be the only time this story was reprinted in an oversized format.
To hear what he said before he passed is heartbreaking. To think he regrets having the talent he had. Sending positive vibes Chris, I know having depression myself it can be all consuming so stay busy and I love the channel, been killing it lately!
You know who should be dealing with depression? Every other person on YT besides Chris who talks comics. Because he is light years above anyone else when it comes to verbal and visual presentation. I've collected comics for decades and heard many "experts" blab away (including myself), so I know this guy is nothing short of fabulous in this field.
Incredible work, I want to search for more of his 50s work now. Regarding a permanent headache, I got something similar a few years ago and it was a combination of burnout, bad sleep, eye strain that needed glasses, and the "incinting incident" was a very bad flu, that I think just was the final straw for all the previous problems get to me and my body just gave out. I imagine Wood's vacation gave him a proper rest in years just brought all the abuse he got to his mind and body to the surface; smoking as he did surely didn't help: probably had blood circulation problems as smoking thickens the blood making it a strain to the heart to pump it, so it can lead to heart failures. It's sad that such a great, talented artist was abused and exploited to that extent his body just gave up on him like that 😢 what's worse it's still such a common situation even today...
@Shinmsl A friend of mine was being treated for migraines and her doctor was prescribing her stronger and stronger medication with no relief. One day when she went to get her latest prescription filled, the pharmacist asked her how long she had been taking this particular drug. When she told him it was her first time, he refused to fill it, explaining that the prescribed dosage was intended for someone who had been on the drug for some time and was building up a tolerance for it. I suggested that she have her eyes examined. I had experienced migraine like symptoms before I got glasses. She went to an optometrist and found out that she was extremely farsighted. She was working 8 - 12 hours a day at a computer. She got glasses and her "migraines" stopped.
If there was a Mount Rushmore of Comics, Wood would def be one of the group. A master who could draw any genre and make it look better than anybody.
Comic tropes uploads = a good way to start my weekend.
To answer your title, the answer is Yes. One of my big regrets was to see Mr. Wood sitting behind me at a convention and never telling him what his work meant to me and the field.
Love this channel.
Wood’s influence on the entire comics industry is tangible even today. I loved his EC stuff, particularly on “Weird Science.” His lush drawing style cannot be imitated. When I saw the “B-17” segment of “Heavy Metal,” I immediately thought “this looks like a Wallace Wood story from “Frontline Combat”
Mike Ploog did the main artwork for that "B-17" bit from the HEAVY METAL movie, but he would probably be the first to admit to being influenced by Wallace Wood's style.
great, visionary and extraordinary comic book artist Wally Wood, Thank you very much Chris
We have lost the a master of art. Loved music and was a friend to fandom.
Wood and Frazetta were the top artists in that time period, along with Al Williamson.
Alex Raymond and Al Williamson are my all time favorites.
Al and Fritz had a dynamic quality that Woody couldn’t match. But Woody was overall a notably better comic artist than Fritz, imo. Al remains the king, imo, who was great at every element of comic art.
I'm glad to hear that you are making Wallace Wood a multi-episode endeavor. He is a fascinating creative force. I understand depression since it's something I've dealt with my entire life. Thank you for all you do to make us more informed on the great creators of the past. You are their voice in our times. Only special people can do that.
As a 70's kid MAD Magazine was a highly sought delight. Beside the monthly issues, you could buy reprint paperbacks that included comic features from the 50's and 60's like Wood's "Superduperman" and "The Wild One Half." These had dated subject matter but the retro art style and humor were gripping. Wood could impersonate any other comics artist, and his own style had a ludicrous dignity that was hilarious even if you had no idea who or what was being parodied.
Such an important artist in the honored history of comics. Thank you Chris for bringing for spotlighting these Legends 🙌
Excellent job. The distinctive, fluid compositions, and stellar anatomy makes Wood's art something that made the world better because of. Remember that daredevil cover. His style is something you can't unsee😂❤
If you look at Wally’s work on Mad Magazine’s Blobs you can see how it influenced Pixar’s Wall-e. I wonder if they named it after Wally Wood?
Looking forward to your future episodes on Wood!
Sorry to hear about your depression. 😢 Keep your head up, dude. Hope you’re doing okay.
Im sorry to hear about your struggle with depression. I know it can be a black hole that just sucks you in and all you can do is survive until it passes. I hope it helps to know that so many care about you and how important you are to all of us! 😊
I discovered Wallace Wood because I really like Power Girl. My favorite bit of trivia is that Wood realized his editor didnt care about what he was doing so he kept increasing PG's bust size to see if his editor would even notice.
That was the guy that did that? I heard that before, but I didn't know that was him. Huh.
I ❤ power girl. She's not just fan service but has lot of personality and fun
A lot of Sally Forth was put into Power Girl.
@@MrModamanReviews I'm gonna have to check out Sally Forth. I'm still trying to find time to read more Wallace Wood stuff.
@Akutabai5 I have heard this COUNTLESS times about Jim Balent on Catwoman. Which makes me think it’s complete horseshit.
There is nothing like a comic illustrator who loves comics and the history itself. The biggest thing about Wood that impresses me is that he was a damn fine, good funny cartoonist too. Many great action adventure illustrators can’t draw funny, period. I also loved his versatility being able to mimic styles from the drawing to the inkng; he did the best mad comic strip parodies.
In the mid 80s, I worked with a young woman who said her brother was in an assistant for him at Syracuse, New York. She said that Wood, drunk with a gun, chased around her brother. Does any of this check out?
From what little I've heard about his condition, Wallace Wood may have suffered from Pseudo Tumor Cerebri (PTC), a condition where the spinal chord makes too much fluid, causing pressure on the brain which causes constant headaches and can lead to blindness. Even in the early 2000s it was difficult for doctors to diagnose, usually being treated as 'just a headache.'
Another great piece and wonderful to hear one on a legend like Wallace Wood.
Thank you, Chris for consistently putting out the most thoughtful and in-depth comics related content. You have a true passion for the art and the medium.
Thank you for your support!
Oh, can't wait to hear more about Wallace Wood! More artist related videos please!
I work with comic books daily, pretty much a dream job, its always an absolute delight and treat when Wood's work comes to me. It is interesting to me how much he focused on nudity and sex towards the end of his life. A legend and undisputable titan of comic history indeed.
I've also been wondering why Woody got so much into nudity and sex material in the later '70s and early '80s. I think it was for three reasons --
1. His mom passed away in August 1972, so after that time Woody didn't have to worry about embarrassing her;
2. The publishing world was generating (and selling) lots more adult material by the early '70s, so there was a ready market for dirty cartoons. Overall, the pay may have been better than what he was getting for "clean" work during that period;
3. Woody was well-suited to the task -- he drew attractive women, enjoyed doing so, and was no prude. Plus, the typical adult story did not require complex or extensive backgrounds, which he may have appreciated because it saved time and kept his hours-per-page time investment low.
@@reprintranch Three very solid and great points! Much appreciated!
There's a history of the Mexican comic era, that it's lost in time, even for the Mexican people, you could talk about it. One of the most famous comic hero in this time was Kaliman. Really an interesting time.
Thank you so much for this story on one of my favorites. I found him with the THUNDER AGENTS books and I became a life long fan. I think you're doing a great job. I hope you continue doing this.
Wood was the GOAT. His EC stuff is unparalleled.
Woody is definitely on Comics Mount Rushmore!!
Such a huge influence on the medium from his beginning to today and beyond.
Thanks Chris!!
I'm excited for this extended look at a creator. So cool!!
You might have read these words many times, but believe me, your channel is a gem, and that's coming from all over across the ocean
Seems like Bob Kane took Wallace Wood's advice to heart!
Hi Chris, just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear about your struggle with depression. I'm also in the same boat and can honestly say your videos are a wonderful escape from it. Thanks for each video and hope things get brighter for you, man.
Terrific little pocket review of Wood's EC career. Loads I didn't know. Enjoyed it immensely. Thanks.
Hope your health improves. Let us know if you get better. Don't like to think of people struggling like this. Take care.
An excellent summary of my favorite EC artist. But you'd never want to tell him "I liked your old stuff better"!
Love your content, sir. Keep up the great work. Depression sucks, but you got this!
Thanks for this episode, love your reviews of great comics creators! 😁👍
Wait! Have we seriously not covered this already?! How did this go unnoticed?
Been a long time coming!
So much thanx!!!
🙌🏼
This is a really great tribute to easily one of the greatest artists the comics medium has ever known; Wood was so ambitious and versatile it's hard not to be inspired by him. I remember taking a year off of my comic series just to beef up my drawing skills and more than anyone else I studied Wood (and yes, I improved!), mainly his work on MAD, Cannon, and witzend. It's always great to find more of his work out there, so thank you again for the recommendations.
EDIT: also forgot to mention the Dr. Doom stories he did for Astonishing Tales; he only did a few but they're still fantastic (...sorry, Doom, should I choose a different adjective?)
Thank you for doing an episode on one of my all time favorite artists. I'm looking forward to more episodes on him.
His _hair_ was also a strong character design!
Wood was a master. On another note: Thank you so much for your amazing videos, Chris! Please take care of yourself ❤
One of my greatest pleasures of working Cons oh-so-many-years-ago was getting to hang out with Al Feldstein for a day.
When I asked him about Wood, this rock-hard New Yorker got a sightly pained look on his face, glanced away and said: "Great artist - great guy!...I really, really don't know what happened with him...".
I didn't push the subject.
Anyway.
Cheers, Chris.
Oh! And keep up the great work you are doing, buddy.
Precious tribute to one of the most important artist ever. I'm 82 today and have drawn since my scholl days. Wood was my inspiration and had been one of my favourites. His work with DC was classical!
I was blessed to have Tatjana Wood as my colorist when I debuted. ❤
10 yrs without a vacation ??? Not me. LOL. You just wear your self out that way.I also believe Jack Kirby spent that much time drawing too,they both were work horses.I like how Wood was a para-trooper in the army,I was in the army too,first as an infantryman,then got hurt on a training exercise and re-classed as a cook. Did 7 yrs in regular army,was stationed for 2 yrs in Korea,loved it there,the Korean people were so polite and friendly.The american dollar went a-LONG-way there,could buy so much in Korea,especially clothes. I still have clothes I bought there in my storage till this day. I had so much-FUN-in the army. LOL. Maybe-TOO-fun. LOL.
Legend has it that when Wally would come into the office to start his day the other artists would greet him saying, "Morning, Wood," and Wally would reply, "That's what she said." Hysterical. I bet this never got old.
Really cool hearing about the man, the myth, the legend: Mr Wallace Wood! The working conditions always sound so terrible so it's no surprise a lot of those guys got kinda jaded. Such a shame to see that talent and production come at the cost of their lives basically. Thanks for sharing this though. At least we can remember his work as the greatness it is
Wood was one of those artists that made a friend and I want to create our own comics back in the 60s and 70s. We got pretty good at drawing but we learned that it was harder than you might expect. Discipline is key. We didn't have it.
Wood discussion always welcome. Thanks for a detailed, well-illustrated episode. I'd never seen the correction-heavy, rejected MAD strip before; for some reason I always thought it was an Uncle Scrooge parody, but I guess not. I wonder who has the original today.
As a fellow chronic headache sufferer, always had sympathy for him. And admiration for the way he kept going, until he couldn't face dialysis.
I am fortunate. I am 68 and retired. Now I can draw and sketch whatever. A dream come true😊
Wow! Yeah, so glad to see this video. Wood was most definitely one of the greats. Thanks for sharing this! ✌🏻
100%. WW's work in MAD is burned into my brain from childhood. My gawd though, between he and Elder, they could ape ANY artist out there. Such an incredible body of work and talent.
Great video. IMO Wally Wood is one of the greatest American comic illustrators, and my personal favorite. He's legendary. I'd place him above Jack Kirby. I can't wait for part 2 of this.
Thank you, Chris! Much love & appreciation always. Stay safe and healthy and all the things
Oh brother as someone who has had mental health issues too i think i can speak for everyone we really appreciate you still getting up and making these videos for us. Much love to you man and thanks for the free entertainment. Wishing you the best brother 🫶
Great timing theres a Wallace Wood art book being published in September.
Stay strong and get well soon. Always love your videos.
Do you have any further info about the upcoming Wood book?
Stay strong, keep moving, God Bless you
Your feelings are valid, there's a lot of darkness out there to be depressed about... there's also a lot of good to be thankful for.
A true legend. Already looking forward to the followup instalment on Wood. And I will henceforth stop referring to him as "Wally Wood".
They never found what caused his headaches? That poor man.
Great episode!! Wally Wood is an amazing artist and his work is tremendous.
Hope you're doing fine, I know for experience that depression is a living nightmare but I hope you can get better soon and have a peacefull life without thinking on those things.
Great work and my best wishes for you, Chris
Thanks for the deep dive. What absolutely stunning art by Mr. Wood! I have been struggling with depression since a little before covid. Thank you for your openness. While it's a battle , it is good to know that you're not the only one. And with depression I think really it's easy to feel that way.
That was a great primer to learning about Wally Wood. Thanks so much for making this!
Keep it up! Wally was one of my all-time favorites! I have four of the Witzends and they have been the cardinal self published masterpieces of my time, not only Wallys work , but Frank Frazettas as well. Thank you for the background, because I had no idea of his development. On your personal note if you are getting help with depression, great. If you are not consider doing so and know you are not alone brother. Keep up this great work! These stories need to be told! Thanks again.
Mr. Wood is my all time favorite comic artist. The few instances when he inked Jack Kirby (Challengers of the Unknown) were the ultimate to me.
When young my aunt bought me a newspaper size comic of woods work. It was amazing, as was anything woods did. Still have some MAD paperbacks with Woods work. Tied with Frazetta as one of my favorite illustrators
Keep up the good fight, Chris! Dealing with depression is tough and can seem pointless, but it's not. It gets better. Remember, your videos (and you, yourself) bring joy and happiness to thousands of people -and that's something. Something big and worthwhile.☮☮🙂🙂
Thanks for posting this. I recently started buying up some of the EC Archives (in softcover). They're really well done and not terribly expensive. I highly recommend them.